With a “what happens, happens” attitude, I typed a name into the search bar: the one I’d just seen in the log.
Even in this situation, I found myself searching for work-related things, which felt quite persistent.
Kim Guk-soon.
“Still an error, huh? Nothing, oh?”
[Suspect: Kim Guk-soon (68)]
[Incident Location: Uri Supermarket]
[Victim: Yu Mun-gon (54)]
[Charge: Theft]
[Outcome: Non-indictment (No Crime)]
“This is…”
It matched the case summary written in my laptop’s log.
After the search, an ‘X’ button and a ‘↓’ (down arrow) button, which hadn’t existed before, also appeared.
‘But why isn’t this case’s outcome in my log?’
If there had been a disposition, I surely would have noted it, but there was no memo about the outcome anywhere in my log.
I hastily pressed the down arrow button and accessed the in-house legal program at Lee & Yeon from my seat.
I searched for the same name.
“This case hasn’t been disposed of by the prosecution yet.”
I clicked the search bar on my laptop again.
Sure enough, the prosecutorial outcome, which hadn’t been released yet, appeared.
A non-indictment means the prosecutor does not file a criminal trial with the court, essentially meaning the person will not be tried.
Furthermore, the reason for non-indictment was “no crime.”
In other words, the prosecution effectively deemed it “not guilty.”
“How can this be?”
The results that appeared in my laptop search perfectly matched the facts I remembered.
This search bar couldn’t possibly see the future.
“Then, perhaps?”
I recklessly searched for “Day of Earth’s Destruction.”
A blank, white screen softly appeared, as if mocking me.
The ‘X’ and ‘↓’ buttons that had briefly appeared vanished as an added bonus.
This confirmed one thing: this search bar wasn’t seeing the future.
If I didn’t enter a proper search term, I couldn’t even close it.
I didn’t even know why it appeared in the first place.
Left with no choice, I typed in another word.
Lee Chil-hong.
[Suspect: Lee Chil-hong (73)]
[Incident Location: Minnac Intersection, Gyeonggi Province Direction]
[Victim: Lee Ha-eum (8)]
[Charge: Accidental Homicide (Previously: Accidental Injury)]
[Outcome: 1 year 8 months imprisonment (Court-ordered detention)]
“Gasp.”
This wasn’t even showing up in the company’s progress.
Because it hadn’t been formally retained yet.
I thought about the commonality between Kim Guk-soon and Lee Chil-hong.
There was only one answer: they were parties in cases I had handled in my previous life.
To prove this hypothesis, I searched for a murder case that would shake up South Korea in the future.
Once again, a blank, white space unfolded.
Nothing appeared.
What this indicated was clear: only cases I had handled or information I had dealt with appeared.
‘But why only these summaries and outcomes?’
I remembered quite a bit about the outcomes myself.
Couldn’t there be more specific data? I entered something more specific than just a name.
Kim Guk-soon Case Records.
[1. Report Details]
[2. Suspect Interrogation Report]
[3. Informant Reference Report]
[4. On-site CCTV CD]
[5. Police Referral Opinion]
Clicking the numbers in order, the contents of the titles displayed on the laptop unfolded.
With a trembling heart, I searched for the records and information I had organized just before I died.
This was because my memory of them was the clearest.
“Everything I had is here…”
All traces of my lifelong dedication remained intact.
“Sob.”
Just returning was a tremendous relief.
I had been given a chance to resolve the injustices suffered by me and my family, who had lived such pitiful lives.
But my life hadn’t fully returned.
As Go Jong-tak said, I lived as a slave, no, even less than that.
How could I be compensated for a life spent only working and being loyal? I still had nothing but my return.
No academic background, no family, no connections—nothing existed for me.
I lacked the weapons to reach my goal.
But.
‘Just you wait, Go Jong-tak.’
And even those nameless individuals above him.
Because hell awaits you.
Now, it felt like the balance needed for a fight had been achieved.
I had found all my information and records from my previous life.
Therefore, my first task is clear: Save Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun.
I have an idea for this.
A very hot-headed chaebol delinquent is about to descend upon Lee & Yeon soon.
And they’ll be receiving the full spotlight of the entire nation.
This chaebol delinquent is currently one of Go Jong-tak’s key clients.
So, hijacking them would be an excellent move, and Go Jong-tak himself will deliver them.
‘But I need something urgent right now.’
Soon, the performance review will come up at the partner meeting, which consists of the actual owners and members of the company.
First, I need to make sure Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun’s name doesn’t come up there.
Unfortunately, the delinquent will arrive after the partner meeting.
As I was pondering, an internal email arrived.
It was a notice about a Lee & Yeon case.
[Request for Review of Case Examples]
I immediately clicked the email to check its contents.
[For those with case experience related to incidents of manufacturing and distributing food products with carcinogens, violating food sanitation laws, etc., please contact Attorney Seo Il-hwa by tomorrow afternoon.]
It was an email requesting work cooperation.
This is when a lawyer taking on a case lacks knowledge or experience in a specific field and seeks another lawyer to supplement that part.
In such cases, the initial retainer and even the success fee are divided based on contribution.
In short, it’s a golden opportunity to boost my performance.
‘But do I have a food sanitation section in the information I collected?’
When I was Go Jong-tak’s secretary, I’d gone through not only the legal community but also various government agencies like the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Financial Supervisory Service, and the Fair Trade Commission, as well as major public enterprises.
So I probably had most things, but I still needed to understand what kind of case it was.
I found out the name of the food company through the relevant secretary: An-eum Co., Ltd.
I searched for the company name on my laptop.
‘Hmm, as expected, since it’s not a case I directly handled, there are no records.’
But that’s okay.
My database also contains information from government ministries.
If I can get the case records, I’ll know if I can utilize the information on my laptop.
“To do that, I’ll have to tackle it directly.”
Having finished my thoughts, I picked up the approval folder and stood up from my seat.
With a resolute expression, I knocked on Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun’s door.
“Come in.”
When I opened the door at Attorney Ahn’s voice, I saw piles of documents stacked high on his desk.
That’s right.
It wasn’t that Attorney Ahn had little work, which made his performance the lowest.
It was just that he had a knack for taking on cases that didn’t bring in any money.
I politely placed the approval folder on his desk and subtly glanced at the cover of the document Attorney Ahn was reviewing.
[Lee Chil-hong]
The name I had searched for just before entering this room.
I instinctively asked Attorney Ahn, “Are you going to take on this case?”
Not only was it a case with poor performance prospects, but it also had no chance of winning.
My laptop was saying the same thing.
“Yes, of course.”
Actually, even without his answer, I already knew the obvious reply.
Wasn’t this a case whose outcome had already appeared on my laptop? And I knew it well even without having to check it.
Because it was a case that had left an indelible mark on my heart.
“I also read it when I printed out the records for you last week.”
“Thank you for always thinking it through with me, Yoo-hee.”
A partner, who is a member of the firm, works with an associate, who is an employed lawyer.
Associates primarily handle analyzing materials and writing documents, while partners review those documents and materials, offering feedback based on their accumulated experience.
In short, it’s easier to think of partners as handling retention and coordination, and associates handling the practical work.
However, Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun, despite being a partner, also handles the practical work.
From retaining cases to drafting documents, and even trials, investigations, and appearances.
He does it all alone.
‘Because he doesn’t have any performance to share with an associate.’
Take Kim Guk-soon for example.
In short, it was the “Les Misérables grandmother” case.
She was reported to the police for stealing ramen because she was hungry.
Attorney fees were, of course, pro bono, a case Attorney Ahn took on without receiving a single won, as was typical of him.
To which associate could he give a case that brought in absolutely no money?
‘Attorney Ahn even gave money to Grandmother Guk-soon.’
So, for lack of a better option, I was doing something similar to an associate’s work.
I often worked late analyzing records and materials.
Attorney Ahn always felt grateful and sorry for this, and perhaps that’s why he tried to repay me, even a little.
He would give me gifts every holiday, and if he ever received any success fees, he’d casually hand me a small gift certificate, claiming he “just picked it up,” and then disappear.
This is the second reason why I’m trying to save Attorney Ahn no matter what.
Because he is someone who gives back as much as he receives.
If he escapes the bottom of the performance ladder with my help and resolves cases, he’s the kind of person who would more than credit me for it.
Avoiding being Go Jong-tak’s secretary, or even more than that, Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun must succeed for me to get closer to my plan.
‘I will take over this law firm.’
That would be the ultimate revenge I could inflict on Go Jong-tak.
For that to happen, Attorney Ahn must rise to a position where he can empower me.
Escaping the bottom of the performance barrel is just the first step towards that.
I recalled the reason I entered the room and gazed at Attorney Ahn, who was signing my approval folder.
“Attorney, did you see the Lee & Yeon announcement today?”
“Ah, you mean Attorney Seo’s case?”
“Yes.”
Attorney Seo Il-hwa, who posted the announcement today, and Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun are from the same school and the same judicial training institute class.
In short, they are close friends.
So, there was a high possibility that he knew roughly what kind of case it was.
“If it’s alright, could I ask what kind of case it is, Attorney?”
“Well, it’s a typical food sanitation law violation case. They say the company is suspected of importing raw materials through a Chinese company for the past few months and then extracting edible oil with carcinogen, benzene, added at a domestic factory, which was then distributed on the market.”
“Ah.”
In short, they messed around with food.
That’s not something a human being should do…
‘Wait. Food with benzene?’
I think I’ve seen something similar.
It was probably data in a report I regularly organized and submitted to Go Jong-tak.
As I continued my thoughts, Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun’s explanation continued.
“Attorney Seo said that although it’s a small company, it was known for being quite conscientious. This incident will probably hit them quite hard.”
Attorney Ahn, who had finished signing the documents I submitted, put down the approval folder and said, “The CEO and executives received prison sentences in the first trial.”
“You said it was a small company. Doesn’t that mean all the executives received prison sentences?”
“That’s right, Yoo-hee.”
“Then there must be a significant impact on the company’s management.”
“Of course. But there’s an even bigger problem. It’s the fine.”
Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hyun picked up an A4-sized memo pad next to his keyboard.
And quickly wrote down an amount.
“This is the company’s annual revenue.”
9 billion won a year.
As Attorney Ahn said, it was a small enterprise. I gasped at the fine amount written immediately after.
“Total fines: 13 billion won…”
In short, it meant ruin.
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